By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

GOSHEN TWP. - A signature at an auction house and a stolen horse trailer led police to narrow their search to a prime suspect in the theft of four horses that were recovered this weekend for two Tristate families.

Police said Monday that a 26-year-old Clearcreek Township man - who was one of two suspects charged with stealing a horse trailer from Butler County last month - apparently signed his own name on records when he put horses from Warren and Clermont counties up for auction in Shipshewana, Ind., since Nov. 29.

Tim and Diane Waechter (left) and Terrie Conroy welcome back their stolen horses. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

"He was stupid enough to give his correct name and address on the papers to the auction house," Chief Ray Snyder, of Goshen Township Police, said. He was planning on traveling to Shipshewana today to show the auction house staff a photo lineup of potential suspects.

Warren County sheriff's officials and Chief Snyder said they expect to file charges against the man and up to two other suspects this week. The man is not being named because he has not been charged in the case.

He also is under investigation for breaking into a Lebanon barn six months ago and stealing tack. That included $5,000 in bridles and saddles that were recovered from the stolen trailer when the man and a 33-year-old woman were pulled over in Butler County on Nov. 7, authorities said.

Information gained from that investigation also led detectives to a property in Preble County, where three stolen horses were recovered, Detective Monte Mayer, of the Butler County Sheriff's Office, said. No charges have been filed as detectives continue their investigation.

Two Arabian mares kept by Tim and Diana Waechter and two Tennessee Walkers owned by Helge and Holly Buflod of Wayne Township were located in Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky over the weekend and returned after police traced them from the Shipshewana Auction southeast of Indianapolis.

A female auction house worker helped solve the case when she recognized the distinctive white teardrop markings on one of the Buflod's horses from an Internet site, Stolen Horse International, that publicizes stolen horses. She notified the auctioneer, who called police.

Chief Snyder said Shipshewana's records also showed that the same man signed over the Waechters' horses for auction the week before. The suspect didn't waste time getting rid of the stolen horses, taking them immediately out of state, he said.

"They would run out on a Thursday late at night, steal the horses and drive through the night directly to the auction house," Chief Snyder said.

The auctioneer, who could not be reached Monday, is not implicated in the case, Chief Snyder said.

While organizations like Stolen Horse International, have called for tighter controls on the sale of horses, most states - including Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana - do not require proof of ownership to sell at auctions, state officials said.

The horses must, however, be free of certain equine diseases, and Shipshewana does those tests on site, said Gary Haynes, director of legal affairs for the Indiana Board of Animal Health.

The new owners didn't know the horses were stolen, said Mr. Waechter, who was reunited Saturday night with Rainbow, a 17-year-old chestnut Arabian/Saddlebred mare, and Princess, a 10-year-old chestnut mare.

Rainbow was sold to an Edwardsburg, Mich., family with three daughters, including one who is handicapped, for a 4-H project, said Terrie Conroy, the horse's owner.

Princess had changed hands four times, and was finally tracked to Bracken County, Ky., said Chief Snyder, who personally traveled to Michigan to retrieve Rainbow.

Erica Solvig contributed to this story.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com

Pulfer Column: Virtual, real posse saddles up